The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-06-29

Then he Enclosed the note in an en-
velope, wrote the superscription and sat
down to think.
Bill Keats had told him that there was
another stage road live miles south of One
Hoss Gap, and that the east bound stage
would pass along about one o'clock that
nj hit. That if he wanted to get letter on
it he would have to go mile east on the
road TO Dandy Gap, where the stage
stopped. That would be six miles
altogether. 1t was then half-past eleven
and he would have to be moving. So put
ting on his hat he stole down stairs and
out without attracting attention, and was
soon speeding along TO Dandy Gap.
1t was nearly three hours when he re-
turned. His trip must have proved salts
factory to him, for he looked more con-
tented than he had since he stepped into
the hotel that afternoon. He stole up to
his room and was soon sound asleep.
At five o'clock the inmates OF the estab
lishment were astir, and at a quarter past
six the great grain wagon, pulled by four
white horses and manned by Tom and
Walter, rolled away from One Hoss Gap.
The first ten miles afforded pleasant riding
and fine scenery. The two men talked in a
friendly way, but Walter was very guarded
III his speech.
The road began to grow rough and rocky
and the journey tlresome. The converse
ton was dropped and stiict attention paid
to the horses. Once or twice the wagon
came near being upset by the huge rocks
that lined each side of the trail. For a
stretch the trail was clear and they fell to
talking again. They had gone along but
short distance when the wagon gave n sud-
den plunge and they were tossed high i'll
the air. Tom landed safely on the seat.
while Walter fell between the wheels. The
wagon righted itself, the horses started
again, and before he could extricate him
self Walter felt the wheel crush his right
limb.
The pain was intense, and he swooned
away. How long he remained in that con-
di.ion he could not tell, for when he re-
covered his senses fair Luna was shedding
her mellow rays on his mangled form
stretched there between two great rocks.
1t was some time before he could recollect
where he was. He raised his head little
and looked about. He was alone. The
wagon and all were gone. He felt for his
papers and photograph. They were gone.
Moreover, his pockets had been rihed. BY
whom? by no other than Tom WHITLEY,
who, when finding him unconscious from
his injury, went through his pockets, and
LID c"h hhe NhO PoPS'
and letter already mentioned, resolved to
let his pursuer die of pain and starvation,
alone ON that desolats mountain trail.
Walter endeavorcd TO get on his feet. He
had almost succeeded, when he fell back
exhausted on a sharp rock and became I'M
conscious.
The hours of night sped on; then came
the dawn; the sun rose high IN the heavens
and cast its burning rays on the unpro-
tected face of the unfortunate young man.
He could not resist them, for his reason
had been dethroned and violent fever
had begun its work. The only thing that
broke the solemn stiffness of the Fay was
the moaning and raving of the unfortunate.
High noon came and went. The sun
was just settling down behind the great
Sieras when the rumble OF a wagon
might be heard in tie distance. Palmer
and more distinct became the rumble,
until at length the white top OF an emf
grants wagon might be seeing creeping
along the trail. An able bodied man was
driving the oxen, while his wife snt sew
ing on the front seat. In the rear of the